Friday, March 16, 2012

Financial, IT and ‘green’ energy and construction skills are
topping the list of skills in greatest demand in the global job market,
according to recruitment specialist Hays.

"Talent shortages are a global problem," said Christine Wright, Managing
Director of Hays in Japan. "We operate in 31 countries and these skills
are the ones that our clients globally say are in most demand. For
anyone considering their career options in our globalised economy, these
are the skills to focus on.

Soft skills, such as languages, organisation, relationship building and
team leadership, were particularly sought after, and made candidates who
possessed them highly attractive to prospective employers.

Top 10 skills shortages

Languages: English has become the lingua franca
for business. For those whose first language is English, being able to
speak a second or third language with any ability is prized.

People and communications: This includes being
able to work efficiently as part of a team, build relationships and
present to clients and senior management.

Team management and leadership: A lack of these skills exists across the board.

Organisational skills: These are highly valued.
Employers want staff capable of organising their day efficiently to
make the greatest possible contribution to the business.

Financial and budgetary: An increasing number
of organisations are looking for greater financial and budgetary
awareness, but in many countries there is a shortage of local candidates
with these skills.

IT: Specific IT skills that are in short supply
globally include knowledge of JAVA, .NET and C++, as well as IT skills
specific to individual industries.

Green skills: This is a fairly new area, but a
growing one, with particular demand in the green energy and construction
sectors across all regions.

Procurement and negotiation: As businesses seek
to cut costs and make savings, demand is soaring for skilled
professionals capable of making these savings and getting the best
deals.

Research and development (R&D): Technology, consumer goods, industrial and life science companies all foresee severe R&D skill shortages.

Healthcare: As people live longer, the
requirement for healthcare grows. But the lack of healthcare
professionals poses a considerable threat for the global economy over
the next 20 to 50 years.

Skill shortages in NZ the top challenge
According to a new Deloitte survey, skills shortages are the single
largest challenge facing NZ businesses. Deloitte's Richard kleinert says
the problem is "universally consistent across all sectors and business
sizes, and poses a significant challenge for the country".

The survey, which canvassed some 300 respondents across a broad range
of economic sectors, found concern over skills was highest in the IT
industry (55% of respondents reported it the top challenge), financial
services (39%) and professional services (35%).